Home Gaming Hey, what happened to GameTrailers.com?

Hey, what happened to GameTrailers.com?

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Last week was the insanity of E3 and as such not much else from the gaming world was noticed during that week. However, something big happened. And we’re going to rewind time to take a look at what happened with GameTrailers.com

We’ve mentioned before that Gametrailers may have already been sold but the actual deal was only signed last week and the new owners of Gametrailers are Defy Media.

And no we are not talking about the guys who make washing machines but rather the company that runs The Escapist among other sites. So what’s going to happen to GameTrailers now? Well they have posted up an update giving us some insight and unfortunately, as expected, it isn’t all good.

Obviously when a company already owns a few gaming sites there will be some obvious cross overs which means redundancies at the new acquisition and this time it appears to be worse than usual. According to a report on Polygon over two thirds of the current GT staff have not been offered positions with Defy and were laid off the day after E3. Ouch. I’m still not sure if Gametrailers is a valid business anymore though, with the amount of gaming shows and trailers that are listed on YouTube on a daily basis.

If you were ever wondering how well the game industry is doing just take a look at how many gaming media sites, magazines and publications are being shut down or swallowed up. It’s not a great time for the industry and our best wishes go out to the people affected by this move.

Hopefully a lot of them can find great careers outside the gaming industry where life appears to be safer.

Last Updated: June 17, 2014

28 Comments

  1. Rince&exhale

    June 17, 2014 at 07:54

    People loosing their job = Not cool. That being said I think the market has been saturated by every tom dick and harry trying to ‘get in on the scene’ of gaming. I can mention a few other sites that literally just copy what certain sites (like LG) do. They don’t even make an attempt to hide this too.

    Reply

    • Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)

      June 17, 2014 at 08:54

      Pretty much, and if you think about it, gametrailers is no longer unique in what they were doing. Just go onto youtube, and you have a host of incredibly talented indies producing material that actually put much of gametrailers to shame.

      Reply

      • Mr. X

        August 20, 2014 at 06:52

        I don’t give a shit about indies. GT was one of the only “official” review sites I actually cared for.

        Reply

  2. MakeItLegal

    June 17, 2014 at 08:05

    eish not cool …. i am being selfish here , but i hope the pach attack stays – guys always makes me laugh “fellow babies”

    Reply

    • Gavin Mannion

      June 17, 2014 at 08:33

      Well Pachter did the show for free so I can’t see it going away

      Reply

      • MakeItLegal

        June 17, 2014 at 09:10

        that would be best 🙂 i dig his insights , but its his humour that sells me

        Reply

      • FoxOneZA

        June 17, 2014 at 09:55

        How dependant are S.A. gaming sites on international gaming sites these days?

        Reply

  3. Badass Eyepatch Man

    June 17, 2014 at 08:11

    Bosman 🙁

    Reply

  4. Badass Eyepatch Man

    June 17, 2014 at 08:16

    Why I still Love GameTrailers.com…Watch Bosman spiral into despair at the news of the site being split up

    http://www.gametrailers.com/videos/b03lao/the-final-bosman-top-10-coolest-things-to-do-at-e3

    Reply

    • Gavin Mannion

      June 17, 2014 at 08:46

      That’s so depressing.. added it

      Reply

      • Rince&exhale

        June 17, 2014 at 08:56

        Gods man. Didn’t need to see that this morning…

        Reply

      • Badass Eyepatch Man

        June 17, 2014 at 08:58

        I know man 🙁 I honestly visit the site for the staff. Same as LG, that, for me is the main difference between a great and just another site.

        Reply

    • Rince&exhale

      June 17, 2014 at 08:55

      You just made me cry 🙁

      Reply

      • Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)

        June 17, 2014 at 09:05

        I don’t want to miss a thing….

        Hahahha Yosp is awesome!

        Reply

        • Rince&exhale

          June 17, 2014 at 09:17

          BWAHAHAH! Man, he will be missed.

          Reply

    • Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)

      June 17, 2014 at 09:02

      Give this man a show on HBO!!!

      Reply

      • Badass Eyepatch Man

        June 17, 2014 at 09:07

        Dude, I know, he probably has the best show on the site. That Brohei serenade at the end was classic!

        Reply

    • MakeItLegal

      June 17, 2014 at 09:14

      omg the humour …

      Reply

  5. Jonah Cash

    June 17, 2014 at 08:20

    Not so safe outside that anymore as well!! All industries are suffering, and it would feels like some are only now being affected by the 2008 meltdown…. Not a great time for any business, or rather not in my industry!! Hope the guys and gals land on their feet!!
    And on a lighter note, The Destiny Alpha was awesome!! I plunged about 30 hours in to it over the long weekend, it will be a great game people!!

    Reply

    • CAE9872

      June 17, 2014 at 09:43

      I played a lot on Friday/Saturday – some solo, some with fellow forum visitors. I think its good, but it is very Halo. Have you played Halo? Did you think the same thing?

      Am interested to see how the story evolves as that didn’t come through in what I played. In some cases felt like random missions with no clear objective at the end. Obviously being Alpha I can forgive that – just hope it all ties into a great story.

      PS – add me to friends list…I need MORE!!!

      Reply

      • Jonah Cash

        June 17, 2014 at 12:12

        I have never played any FPS game online in my life….. this was my first foray and I am happy to say that I will gladly pay to play Destiny!! If it is for 10 years it is a steal in any case!!
        I’m also intrigued to see what they do with the story, but that will come!!
        We are friends on PS4 aren’t we?

        Reply

        • CAE9872

          June 17, 2014 at 12:30

          Yes we are – sorry confused you with another forumite…eish its either too early or I am going senile!

          Reply

  6. Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)

    June 17, 2014 at 08:55

    In other news, youtube sensation, Pewdiepie grossed $4 million in 2013.

    Reply

    • Alien Emperor Trevor

      June 17, 2014 at 09:05

      Who? :/

      Reply

      • Kromas

        June 17, 2014 at 12:00

        You are better off not knowing. 😛

        Reply

      • Rowan Govender

        June 17, 2014 at 12:04

        He’s a reasonably good looking blonde fellow who plays games and acts weird. He’s got a huge female teen following.

        On one hand, some of his videos are really funny, but on the other hand, he doesn’t do anything amazing and still makes tons of cash.

        Reply

    • FoxOneZA

      June 17, 2014 at 09:56

      He literally sold his channel for bajillions!

      Reply

  7. OhioAn0n

    January 19, 2015 at 09:22

    If any site is deserving of being shut down completely it is Gametrailers, it is far beneath the site it used to be. I knew the original owner and admins well, they all left because of the politically correct garbage the site was forced to deal with in the community. I was one of the original members and the changes forced me to basically abandon the site completely.

    Reply

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